Nuance Dictionary / Culture & Language
눈물겹다 nun-mul-gyeop-da
So overwhelming, touching, or difficult that it brings tears to one's eyes
What does 눈물겹다 mean?
눈물겹다 (nun-mul-gyeop-da) means: So overwhelming, touching, or difficult that it brings tears to one's eyes.
Used when an effort, a gesture, or a survival through hardship is so magnificent or poignant that it forces admiration and tears. It elevates a difficult moment into something deeply moving.
🔊 From the story above
울컥하다 — Ul-keok-ha-da
울지 마 — ul-ji ma, "don't cry"
다 잘 될 거야 — ul-ji ma, da jal doel geo-ya, "Don't cry, everything will be fine"
속상하다 — sok-sang-ha-da, "to feel inwardly bruised, distressed, and heavy-hearted"
울음이 터지다 — ul-eum-i teo-ji-da, "for crying to burst open"
많이 서러웠겠구나 — man-hi seo-reow-eot-gett-gu-na, "You must have felt so deeply wronged"
마음이 참 아프겠네 — ma-eum-i cham a-peu-gett-ne, "Your heart must really be hurting"
별일 아니야 — ul-ji ma, byeol-il a-ni-ya, "Don't cry, it's nothing"
🎙️ 눈물겹다는 표기 그대로 읽지 않아요 — 실제로는 [눈물겹따]로 소리나요 (경음화). 발음 연습하기 →
How it's actually used
- 추운 날씨에 밖에서 고생하는 모습을 보니 눈물겹도록 고마웠다.
chuun nalssie bak-eseo gosaenghaneun moseubeul boni nunmulgyeopdorok gomawotda.
Seeing them suffer out in the cold weather made me so overwhelmingly grateful it brought tears to my eyes.
💡 Expresses profound appreciation bordering on tears. - 그 나이에 다시 공부를 시작해서 합격하다니 정말 눈물겨운 노력이다.
geu naie dasi gongbureul sijakaeseo hapgyeokhadani jeongmal nunmulgyeoun noryeogida.
Starting to study all over again at that age and passing is truly a tear-jerking, admirable effort.
💡 Used to describe someone's arduous, touching perseverance. - 혼자서 그 수많은 역경을 이겨낸 그녀의 삶은 눈물겹게 아름다웠다.
honjaseo geu sumanheun yeokgyeongeul igyeonaen geunyeoui salmeun nunmulgyeopge areumdawotda.
Her life, having overcome all those numerous hardships entirely on her own, was touchingly beautiful.
💡 Literary tone emphasizing a deeply moving struggle and triumph.
Related words in Culture & Language
서두르다 seo-du-reu-da재촉하다 jae-chok-ha-da닥달하다 dak-dal-ha-da눈치껏 nun-chi-kkeot사양하다 sa-yang-ha-da